About the Role
In this role, you are accountable for the ideation, development, implementation and execution of the Gap Inc production and vendor capability strategy, delivering value through effectively balancing innovation, quality, and cost. You will be able to operate in a highly matrixed global organization, forming part of the cross functional product team (Design, Merchandising, Tech Design, Quality Assurance, Sustainability, Fabric Research and Development and Global Sourcing). You will be able to manage and collaborate as well as execute, with strong attention to detail and business acumen, ensuring product flows through the pipeline and meets key milestones to meet product to market (P2M) demands.
What You'll Do
- Understand product development implications on merchandising and design-driven product decisions based on category or vendor strategies and nuances.
- Own TNA with Product Ops and be a partner with GIS to set achievable timing. Work closely with Ops and CFT to advise product TNA deadlines that impact GIS/Vendor/sample + bulk production.
- Negotiate MOQ + build responsive timelines.
- Drive communication between brand teams and Asia-based product teams to ensure strategic business alignment and optimal responsiveness.
- Understand and work with cross-functional teams to ensure financial targets are met by delivering costing guidance.
- Manage BOM maintenance through PLM system to ensure product execution.
- Communicate with Asia-based teams to understand product execution issues and provide support in resolving them in a timely manner
- Create seasonal strategies to limit our exposure to buying fabrics pre line adoption
- Execute a vendor engagement strategy across divisions and categories for both seasonal and fast pipelines
- Ensure product availability for seasonal and fast pipelines at the product category level
- Execute category product development strategies that align with production strategies and divisional goals. Communicate compelling data-driven recommendations that consider cross-functional priorities to influence decision-making beyond direct ownership.
- Maintain clarity of communication by being hyper specific and focused and reduce spin among the CFT. Enhance broader communication across teams by setting weekly Collabs CFT agenda to highlight weekly tactical actions tied back to TNA. Widely communicate progress related to accessories and highlight areas of risk offer support to CFT to meet goals.
- Proactively facilitate cross-functional collaboration to drive strategies that mitigate risks for optimal results
- Anticipating questions, be prepared, and thinking ahead to drive efficiency and speed.
- Be the functional process expert to best guide the CFT in P2M, VDD, branding outside the direct scope of ownership.
- Explain clearly fabric, production techniques and limitations to cross-functional team to improve sustainability, quality, and cost.
- Become the expert across internal and external teams on product capabilities - to give both teams confidence in PD execution.
- Working with Product Safety and Regulatory as needed.
- Lead Associate Manager
Who You Are
- Motivated to work in an emerging category.
- Global Product Development experience or exposure to driving global product development and understands design, merchandising, and vendor/category management.
- Problem Solver- can proactively solve problems and effectively manage multiple challenges. Resourceful.
- Global Business Acumen- experience executing on multi-year operational goals, incorporating knowledge of production trade regulations, testing protocol, product integrity, production cycle timeline, fabric and garment construction, and retail math.
- Collaboration- Proven ability influencing and making decisions cross-functionally in a matrix environment where speed and cultural sensitivity is crucial.
- Learning Agility- demonstrated curiosity, highly motivated to develop new skills and knowledge.
- Develop the analytic process required to optimize post Line Adoption.
- Adapt team priorities to respond to customer and business partner needs.
- Manage specific categories in coordination with a cross functional team and international sourcing partners.